Spread across the slightly moldy tabletop was a map made from the hide of an unknown animal.
On the yellowed paper, the shapes of islands in a small stretch of sea had been outlined in ink, with one of them marked. In a corner of the map were several small spots that looked like stains. On closer inspection, the black dots formed a constellation-like pattern.
There were also drawings of animals, which looked as though they were marking dangers.
It looked authentic at a glance. Appraisal: a treasure map.
In this era, navigation still lacked convenient and efficient tools like satellite positioning. In the vast, endless ocean, there were often no islands in sight at all, so everyone relied on the stars for navigation.
Unlike islands and reefs, whose positions could be thrown off by the weather, the stars never changed. They were the eternal map.
When a ship reached the correct location, the stars overhead would form the arrangement shown on the map. Thus, this method of marking locations was quite practical.
"According to this map, we'll need to sail for about another week to reach the treasure's location. That stretch of sea isn't on any shipping route, and very few ships pass through it."
The sailor responsible for navigation consulted his own nautical chart and explained.
There were still many regions of this endless ocean that humans had never set foot in. Due to ocean currents and monsoons, ships mostly followed a few fixed routes. These routes had been established through the experiences of those who came before them, bought with lessons written in blood and tears. Beyond the shipping lanes, the waters were either filled with reefs or plagued by unstable currents. There might even be Sea Monsters. Ordinary ships would never venture there.
On Earth, ships